(Ret) Col Jared B. Schopper Sr.

Tahlequah, OK- Graveside services for Colonel Jared B. Schopper (Ret) will be held Wednesday, April 16th, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery with Brother Scott Wilson officiating. Pallbearers will be from the U.S. Army. Visitation for Jared Schopper will be held on Tuesday, April 15th, 2014 from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Reed-Culver with his family in attendance. Online condolences may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Jared Bruce Schopper was born in Ponca City, OK, the son of Walter Perry and Leta Dottie (Sanford) Schopper. The family moved to Muskogee, OK. Jared’s father Walter was a career military man and also a retired Colonel, and Jared was reared by his mother and grandparents in Muskogee. It was in his early years he was taught the importance of God, and duty to country. Upon his graduation from Muskogee High School in 1945, Jared attended West Point Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1950 graduating in the top ten percent of his class. He had a distinguished military career beginning with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War, serving under Brigadier General William Westmoreland. In 1964 he earned a Master’s Degree studying at the Command and General Staff College of the US Army as a Master of Military Art and Science. In 1965, Colonel Schopper served as the Staff Officer of Military Assistance Command in Vietnam. In 1969, he was made Battalion Commander at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. His services under Brigadier General Westmoreland were highly valued, and it was at this time he was elevated to the General’s Chief of Staff at the Pentagon. He received the Legion of Merit Award by the President of the United States, authorized by an Act of Congress for outstanding service from July 1969 to August 1972. His brilliant military career was retired in 1977 after many years of dedicated service to the US Army and his Country. Colonel Schopper was a man who knew his military, studying military strategy, tactical warfare, and the great battles of the Civil War, all of his adult life. He spoke German, French, Italian, and Vietnamese fluently. He possessed a strong love of learning and applied this to his knowledge of the Bible as well. Upon retiring to Tahlequah, he passed this knowledge on to the people of Boudinot Baptist Church and the students at Boudinot School. He was a family man who loved and held great pride in his six children, Jared Bruce Jr., David Paul, Daniel Stephen, Cynthia Joy, Joel Nathan, and Melody Dawn. Jared was a man who appreciated the simple things in life. He loved the experience of traveling and seeing the ways of the world, yet enjoyed the quiet life in the foothills of the Ozarks. He had a warm smile and a way with people. He served his country and his community all of his life, leading by example. A Christian by faith, Jared was a member of Boudinot Baptist Church where he shared the word of God from the pulpit. The Lord called this faithful soldier, leader, husband, and father to his eternal home on Saturday, April 12th, 2014 in Tahlequah, OK with his family by his side. He was 86 years old. The legacy he leaves behind is one of honor, courage, duty to country, and faith in his fellow man.

Jared is preceded in death by his mother, father, and his grandparents.

Those left behind to cherish his memory include his wife, Sue Ann Schopper of the home in Tahlequah, and his six children, Jared Schopper Jr. of Florida, David Schopper of North Carolina, Daniel Schopper and wife Tamara of Houston, TX, Cynthia Gaumond and husband Paul of Tennessee, Joel Schopper and wife Vicki of Florida, and Melody Schopper of the home in Tahlequah, OK. His legacy lives on in his six grandchildren, Jason Schopper, Jesse Schopper, Julie Schopper, Jonathan Schopper, David Paul Schopper Jr., and Jennifer Savarese and family. There are two great grandchildren, Meridian and Peter, the mother of his children, Marilyn Fay Johnson of Florida, as well as many cousins and people whose lives he has touched during his time here on earth.

Day is done, gone the sun

From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky

All is well, safely rest

God is nigh.

Fading light dims the sight

And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright

From afar, drawing near

Falls the night.

Thanks and praise for our days

Neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky

As we go, this we know

God is nigh.